This is a really dumb question, but I’m askin’ it anyway.
Do you think it’s racist to have picked the shortest month of the year For Black History Month? Like, if we have to have a “Black History Month,” at least it’ll be over with soon.
It doesn’t have anything to do with Lincoln’s birthday being in February, does it?
Yup. Frederick Douglass’ birthday, too.
I think it’s interesting that some people think the month was picked for African-Americans or given rather than being deliberately chosen by a prominent gentleman of their own community.
IJS.
I’ve heard the same thing from black comedians and columnists and it always rubs me the wrong way.
Hmmm, you got a point there. :o
Dedicating a month to any race is certainly racialist and, as such, detrimental in the end. Such racialism fosters the belief that races are different and separate from each other.
Otherwise, we ought to have Latino History Month, South Asian History Month, East Asian History Month, Middle Eastern History Month, Central Asian History Month, Western European History Month, and Eastern European History Month.
Or if we’re hung up on colors, how about Yellow History Month, Brown History Month, Red History Month, and White History Month.
WRS - all are equal under the eyes of Heaven.
It’s a cheap shot at white folks which people who know better don’t always find funny.
That said, there is no pleasing African-Americans. As long as it was Negro History Week, there was parity with other weeklong celebrations. Expand it to a month, and we bitch because it’s the shortest month --and blame white folks! Ah, my people.
As John Stewart said on The Daily Show this week (paraphrased):
Pretty soon Black History Month will be over, and we can get back to White History Rest-of-Year.
My college had a black history themed everything for the past month.
What bothered me was that fried chicken was listed on the menu at the dining hall for “Black history cusine”.
Yup… Thats dispelling stereotypes.
Hey, it’s true. African-American cuisine came out of slavery and chicken, fish and lesser bits of hog are meats blacks ate. Any black restaurant is guaranteed to serve chicken-- even seafood places. You do occassionally get accurate information in college.
Hm, ok. sorry then, I just thought that was put together as a false stereotype that was somehow used to mock the race.
For about the 5th time this week, thanks SDMB for dispelling my ignorance.
When I was a kid, I always, always clamored to go with my folks when they went over to Reverend Brown’s house because Miss Naomi made the absolute BEST fried chicken EVAH from a family recipe that had been handed down through the generations in her family. (The Browns are family friends since I was a sprite, that is their actual name as well as a description of their skin color)
Hmm, now that I’m thinking about it, I haven’t seen them since my wedding, I’m sure they’d love a vist and be happy to roll out the old feedbag… 
You do know that they do have a Hispanic Heritage Month, Women’s History Month, Asian Pacific History Month, Native American History Month, Irish American History Month, Italian American History Month, and German American History Month? This past September was the first celebration of Jewish History Month. We even have a Gay and Lesbian History Month.
So I’d say we’re all equal, pretty much. It’s just that some months–like Black History Month–garner more attention because of activism by their respective interest groups.
Hey, monstro. Mind matching up ethnic groups and months? You seem to be the resident authority.
what’s more racist? that we have all these dedicated months or that no one could care less about any of them other than BHM?
The assumption no one care about them is pretty ethnocentristic and condescending…
meh. ok, the vast majority of americans.
The majority of Americans aren’t women? The largest minority group isn’t Hispanic? The midwest isn’t made up people of Germanic descent? There aren’t notable conmtributions from people of Asian ancestry on the Pacific Rim? Etc.
Plenty people care.
I’m no expert. I just know how to google.
Hispanic Heritage Month is in September, flowing into October. Just like German American Month.
Asian-Pacific History Month is in May.
Women’s History Month is in March, as is Irish-American Heritage Month.
After celebrating Italian American Heritage Month and Polish-American Heritage Month in October, you can celebrate Native American History Month, which is in November.
And June is Gay and Lesbian History/Pride Month.
It was clear to me when I lived in the NYC area that people do celebrate these months. To find out what ethnic group was being celebrated, all you had to do was see what parades were scheduled.
And when you tire of celebrating Native American History Month this November, you can take a break and celebrate Arab American Heritage Month, which is also in November.